Looking forward to this lens (Sony 18-104 OSS F4)...

It certainly is odd that they'd build this lens which seems to be targeted toward video, yet is only optimized on their stills cameras and 1 video camera

It's cheap by video standards, and probably normal for photo standards, but that power zoom is its defining feature, a feature only needed for video.

So sony... is a firmware update for your video cameras planned? otherwise it's just odd and looks like a waste of effort on your part.

I have a small feeling that they had the same idea as those m43 power zoom lenses, and hence thought to aim it at still cameras that shoot video
 
It really is a dumbfounding product. How much more would it have cost to make it optically correct(ish)? Even at $1000 it would have been a decent deal for a constant f/4 with a versatile zoom range and power zoom; I don't think anyone here would have complained about that price and they would have sold a bunch to FS700/100 run-and-gunners.

I just posted about this over on the Sony community forums as well. I doubt anything will come of it, but I figure it's more likely someone from Sony will see it there. Feel free to add your opinions:

http://community.sony.com/t5/FS700/SELP18105G-support-on-FS700/m-p/255435#U255435
 
Just got in touch with Sony Japan, they don't acknowledge the issue.
So the dealer couldn't take back my lens...

I wouldn't hold my breath for a fix on the fs700, and i 'm pretty sure you can forget about the fs100
 
did they really put it in those words? they don't acknowledge it as an issue? which would be the same as saying they are fully aware they made a poor performing product.
 
They told me they are not aware of any problem regarding this lens.
Since it's an issue limited to the FS100 and FS700 users it might take time for them to realize it.
 
Rishaar said:
They told me they are not aware of any problem regarding this lens.
Since it's an issue limited to the FS100 and FS700 users it might take time for them to realize it.
Click to expand...

Take some pictures with the FS700 with it and send it back to them saying it's broke. They they know of no 'issues' with the lens but it produces severely distorted images, it's broke, right? I say that's a warranty refund.
 
Rishaar said:
They told me they are not aware of any problem regarding this lens.
Since it's an issue limited to the FS100 and FS700 users it might take time for them to realize it.
Click to expand...
They are fully aware that the lens isn't compatible with the FS cameras and have been since the lens was announced.
 
I called Sony Customer Service to return mine and the rep said he had to "raise it to the next level of management". They, finally, sent me an RMA, but for a few days, I was worried they would refuse. Sony started to claim that I had waited beyond the 30 day from purchase date return period when I had to explain they hadn't shipped it until Dec 19th. For a company as influential as Sony, they are extremely slimy.
 
For those who couldnt imagine what kind of distortion this lemse is producing a simple example done with my NEX7- that means, there is a correction made inside the camera. The FS700 results are worse.
BennTestbild Sony Zoom.jpg
 
Wow, that distortion is horrendous! That might be worse than what I've seen in my FS700. I'm wondering if there might be a firmware update for your NEX7 to provide the correction. I have no knowledge of the NEX7, but I have used the lens with my EA50, and the correction in that cam provides an image that is barely distorted at either end.
 
The automatic correction does only work in the JPGs - not the RAWs. They have correction profiles in the RAW converters like Adobe camera raw, Lightroom and so son.
 
It's funny to try Lightroom's auto Lens correction specifically for this lens !!
It crops, it un-vignettes, it un-pillows
Literally it trashes a big part of the image !
 
If I use the adobe Camera-RAW I can reduce this distorsion to probably 85%. And if you are willing to do this, you can enhance it in Photoshop to 95%. But we are talking about images and not about video. I cant see a way to correct this flaw without significantly efforts for video.
Benn
 
benn said:
If I use the adobe Camera-RAW I can reduce this distorsion to probably 85%. And if you are willing to do this, you can enhance it in Photoshop to 95%. But we are talking about images and not about video. I cant see a way to correct this flaw without significantly efforts for video.
Benn
Click to expand...

Why even bother? Clearly it's a **** lens. If enough people send it back, Sony might see the light and take it back to the drawing board.
 
Wow...
I know Sony/m43 lens manufacturers cheat a little bit (the lenses are wider than spec-ed to accommodate for the loss during correction) but this is really bad
Hope the Zeiss isn't this bad
 
At least they listened to us !
They just announced the development of a high quality 28-135mm f/4 pzoom lens.
 
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